Ash wafted as high as 3 miles above the Sakurajima volcano in the southern city of Kagoshima on Sunday afternoon, forming its highest plume since the Japan Meteorological Agency started keeping records in 2006. Lava flowed just over half a mile from the fissure, and several huge volcanic rocks rolled down the mountainside.

Though the eruption was more massive than usual, residents of the city of about 600,000 are used to hearing from their 3,664-foot neighbor. Kagoshima officials said in a statement that this was Sakurajima's 500th eruption this year alone. Read the full story.

Volcanic smoke from Mount Sakurajima flows into an urban area of Kagoshima on Sunday.Kyodo News via AP

Ash wafted as high as 3 miles above the Sakurajima volcano on Sunday.Japan Meteorological Agency via AFP - Getty Images